OnderStroom Records / Belgium / 2022
A Blaze Colour was a pioneering Belgian electronic duo formed in the early 1980s by Ludo Camberlin and Karel 'Bam' Saelemaekers, emerging from Leuven’s post-punk underground during a wave of global musical experimentation fueled by punk’s DIY ethos and the rising accessibility of synthesizers.
Fascinated by new sonic forms, they debuted with an instrumental track on the 1981 No Big Business compilation, followed by a self-produced cassette of five minimal synth-pop tracks characterized by analog gear and structured, emotionally rich songwriting. Songs like “Means To An End”, “Or Lie Again”, and “Follow The Signs” showcased both technical inventiveness and a haunting atmosphere.
Their 1982 single, “Dark Trees Beyond”, and collaboration with Wally van Middendorp of Minny Pops at Plurex Studios, led to a refined EP featuring standout tracks like “The New Ones” and “Nowhere Else”. The band’s final track, “The Ultimate Fight”, was a powerful, funk-infused closer on No Big Business 2.
Though their lifespan was short, A Blaze Colour left a lasting mark as one of the most visionary and influential acts of the Belgian minimal synth scene—innovative, atmospheric, and ahead of their time.